Rick Knapp Gets The Skull and Crossbones Award

Dan Corner

Rick Knapp Taught George Sodini

This Skull and Crossbones Award goes to eternal security teacher, (Alan) Rick Knapp. Rick Knapp is the so-called "pastor" of the Tetelestai church, who convinced George Sodini, the murderer of three women, and then himself on Aug. 4, 2009 in Pittsburgh, PA that a Christian can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. George Sodini is one of the many suicide victims, which have occurred over the years because of once saved always saved. Here are the exact words of George Sodini himself:

But this guy [Rick Knapp] teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. (George Sodini's own web site under Dec. 31, 2008 and Tetelestai Church).

Again, those are George Sodini's choice of words, as he refers to Rick Knapp and what he has been convinced of. As we at Evangelical Outreach have been teaching for years, Calvinism leads to broken homes through adultery, criminal acts and suicides. Sadly, we have again been proven right. George Sodini, who once went to Rick Knapp's eternal security church for 13 years, wrote the following just one day before his multiple murders:

Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. (ibid., Capital emphasis his)

NOTE: The deceived George Sodini apparently thought, because of eternal security, that the works mentioned in Eph. 2:8,9 includes mass murder! Once saved always saved people have often wrongly equated "works" with both obedience and disobedience. It is clear from George Sodini's quote that he thought it included DISobedience!

The truth is: It takes a trusting-faith in the Lord Jesus which will submit and obey him to have salvation. Faith without [good] works is "dead," (James 2:14-17). We are NOT saved by faith in Jesus + our good deeds, but instead it is a faith in Jesus which OBEYS. We are TRUSTING IN JESUS 100% FOR OUR SALVATION, as we submit to and follow him now in this sinful society. Moreover, a saving faith in Jesus Christ can cease to exist.

The teaching that Rick Knapp (and all once saved always saved teachers) disseminates is a dangerous snare especially to SOULS. The devil has been using this teaching for many years to reclaim souls. It is a license to sin under grace and the security-in-sin devil's gospel. If you don't believe this, read on.

Rick Knapp's Beer
Guzzling Deacon Is Deceived About George Sodini

Soon after the George Sodini murders, (Alan) Rick Knapp left town! The report is: he went to Florida to care for his ill father. Hence, Rick Knapp conveniently was not available for comments about his teachings and George Sodini's criminal act, but one of Rich Knapp's deacons was. That deacon was 80 year old Jack Rickard. Rickard knew George Sodini and said this:

"George is going to heaven, but he's not going to get his rewards." (Valley News Dispatch, 8-8-09, written by Michael Aubele)

Rickard believes George Sodini won't be offered all of heaven's benefits because of his sin, but will still be there! A local article also stated:

Rickard said he socialized with George Sodini on several occasions. The two had beers together and George Sodini ate dinner at Rickard's home at least once, said Rickard. (ibid.)

The open and unashamed drinking of an alcoholic beverage also reflects what Rick Knapp's theology of once saved always saved produces, even among church leaders. If one can murder multiple people and himself (like George Sodini) and still go to heaven, he can certainly do anything less than that too without fear of loss of salvation. It is time for such a doctrine which leads to wickedness and taught under grace to be aggressively renounced and rejected by Bible believers as heretical.

Rick Knapp also stumbled and misled a fellow co-laborer I once personally evangelized with in Pittsburgh many years ago through his same vile "grace" teachings. When that person started to believe in the perseverance of the saints, he immediately backslid. He became very worldly and lost his evangelistic zeal! The root problem is the false teaching itself. Not only has that doctrine shortened people's physical lives here and been the cause of many going to hell, it has also been part of the reason why the world is disgusted with the present-day version of "Christianity" - not knowing it is not real Christianity at all!

The devil has been and continues to use the teaching of once a son always a son to the detriment of all who are so deceived. May God help us reach many before more tragedies occur and Christianity is smeared further by such once saved always saved teachers, as Rick Knapp.

The infamous George Sodini was one of many
victims of a dangerous false theology rampant in our day. There have been many others also spiritually hurt by that doctrine. To help combat such spiritual poison and protect yourself and family spiritually, we have much related materials, including two important books: The Believer’s Conditional SecurityandThe Myth of Eternal Security. You can order them securely NOW with QUICK SHIPMENT plus FREE materials at Evangelical Books. The infamous George Sodini was just one of many victims of the dangerous false theology of eternal security so rampant in our day.